worlde the Plague of a common weale the Mischiefe of men and the Bondslaue of the deuill And no maruell for what iniury might be conceiued that was not by him imagined What euill could there be that he shunned to practise what mercilesse dealing that he woulde not proffer what apparant wrong that hee ceased to iustifie what execrable extortion that he cared not to commit what villany so damnable that he durst not put forward O God it is incredible to think and vnpossible to be surmised how great how forcible how manifold how mischieuous how insufferable how detestable hath bene the originall progression continuation and determination of his moste wicked and shamelesse life and were it not that by the incessant outcries continuall cursinges and horrible denuntiations of the innumerable multitude of those whom in his life time he yoked whome with his actions hee feared whome with the weight of hys endlesse wealth he poized down that they durst not theÌ„ whisper in secret what now they openly discouer whereby the force of his wickednes being then secret became not as now so open and apparant I durst not me thinkes of my selfe so much as surmise but the one halfe of that wherein he became so notorious so rare and vnused are the euils wherein hee seemed so thoroughly to be fleshed I haue woondered sithence with my selfe many times what soyle it might bee or what constellation so furious as effected theyr operations in production of so bad and vile a creature at the tyme when he was first put forward with liuing into the world In the searche wherof I haue bene the lesse astonished insomuche as thereby I haue grown into some perticular knowledge of his original and parents His sire I haue vnderstoode was a vilain by creation by nature by soyle by discent by education by practise by studie by experience his dame the common sinck of euery rakehels filthinesse the one of whome after innumerable offences committed whereby he deserued a thousand deathes was at the last for a detestable and notorious crime burned peacemeale vpon a stage in hollande and the other after sundrye consuming and filthye diseases neuer able to ridde her was in like maner hanged aliue in chaynes for a moste horrible murder in England Expect you not then that the procreation and generation of such an issue must by argument of the Parents condition sorte to some notable purpose you doe I know and in truth howe could it otherwise be likely Now if hereby we shuld conceiue of his education and how his child-hood passe away being fostered vp as he was from one place to another without any certayne abiding but only Coelum omnibus commune the common habitation of the worlde wee must no doubt suppose that he saw much knew much practised muche ouerpassed muche and was glutted with very muÌ„he And surely if I should giue credite to somewhom I durst beleue that knew him euen then when he was not much more then a child the very yeares hee lastly bare gaue not more assured testimonie of what he now was then the season in which he then passed did yeeld an inuiolable approbation what in time following he woulde become for euen then what rapine what thefte what iniurie what slander what lying what enuy what malice desperate boldnes and daring to enter into any mischiefe was in him thorowly planted There was not by report any one thing whereby a man might afterward be coniectured to become infamous but was in him fully replenished Credite me I coniecture so manifoldly of the sequel of his actions as wheÌ„ I vnderstand what he was so ripely I maruel that he liued thus long so wickedly But shall I turn here from to hys Adolescencie and she we what therein I haue heard Truely it passeth all capacitie to be censured and it it is too too muche to be thought vppon His pride hys bouldnesse his shamelesse continuance hys lookes his gesture his shewe his liuing hys conuersation his companie his hauntes shewed still what hee was There was no rakehell no ruffian no knaue no villain no cogging raskall no hatefull companion no robber on hie waies no priuie pilferer but his hand was in with him and that he was a copesmate for him no brothel house but he haunted no od corner but he knew no cutter but hee was a sharer with no person so lascinious abiect vilde or dissolute but hee would be a copartner Yet after all these trades hauntes sharinges and partakinges hee became at last to serue an olde miser aged for his yeares and miserable for hys couetousnesse This wretched olde man as eache one fancieth as hee liketh conceiued so muche of the odd youth that he tooke him into his seruice where wyth bad attire and threed-bare diet he liued with him a pretie season somewhat more then quarter mayster In the'nd by whose theft God knowes the man had a chest broken vppe and a little coyne and plate stolne wherewith becomming desperate it was deliuered he hong himself for griefe and being now dead left no issue or other heire to succeede hys wretchednesse and doble barred hoord but B. his man who being a strong lubber was by this time grown a sturdy knaue wold needes be compted a man therupon became owner and intrudor to his maisters pelâ—e wretchednesse and miserie To recken vnto you since how hee came into the couÌ„try here became a purchaser how he hath speÌ„t his youth passed his old age what briberie extortion wrong crueltie rapine mischiefe and al kind of villany he hath bolstred perpetrated folowed what infidelity falshood reuenge priuy-guile trechery betraying the innocent beating down the poore fatherles widows how much euil hath he done what litle good he hath deserued what shuld I clogge my self with the remembrance or troble you with rehearsal It is to much I am not able I cannot nay it were vnpossible to performe it What resteth then but that I reache the scope as in the foremost purpose was intended that hauing deliuered his shamefull life I doe report vnto you hys shamelesse and vnaccustomed death See then the incomprehensible power and iustice of God see the weight of hys measure see the woonderfull demonstration of his secret iudgement howe of a carelesse lyfe ensueth a cancred death of wilfull liuing a wretched ending of such money misers so manifolde miseries as whereof I sigh to thinke and greeue to remember The man somwhat before his sicknesse grew into an extreame numnesse insomuche as hee that neuer lusted to helpe others was not nowe ableÌ„ to helpe himselfe nor any cared to relieue him afterwards fretting and fuming with himselfe as it seemed that notwithstanding his great masse of money and huge heap of wealth none could be entreated with prayers or hired with treasure so much as to meddle with him
much the more iust and right the occasion is of their defence by so much the sooner will they and are able to preuaile against you I recke not that you haue courage sufficient that you are hardye bold aduenturous the vse wherof being employed to good and laudable purposes were I confesse much more effectuous but herein how euer the case staÌ„deth I see nothing so likely as an impossibility insomuch as if you be delighted to become infamous in the memory of a shameles life to hazard your self to a shameful death then may you enter into it once this I know that her can you neuer find so slenderly accompanied that with small force you can carrye her but within a momeÌ„t alwaies ther wil not be wanting a nomber that shall bicker for her from whose in-sight you are altogether vnable if her self consented thereunto to conuey her But grâ—nting vnto your wiâ—full imagination asmuch in all thinges as you can desire suppose you might win her conueye her keepe her and that the daunger of lawe limited at all no hazarde the contrarye whereof you well know beeing guerdoned with no worse then losse of life doe but yet againe retourne to your selfe you muste in the ende call to minde your byrth your familye your profession your maner of liuinge your Parents who were worshipfull your stock highly reputed of your profession Armes your liuing a Gentleman is it consonant or agreeing to all or any of these to commit any outrage yee such as to any were not so proper as to a villaine a wretch a raskall such a one as neither by nature education or custome knoweth to doe otherwise What would you exercise I pray you on her if you had her Once you confesse shee doth not loue you then no question would shee ten times more hate you your aunswere I know woulde bee either by intretie to perswade her or by force to subdue her The conclusion is friuolous if beeing now her supposed well willer you can by no meanes allure her immagine you then by prayers to conuince her after you haue once shewed your selfe so extremely to hate her And if force be it you pretende it is repugnant to gentlenes yet be it you neglect what therin to be considered assure your selfe her malice neuerthelesse towardes you will neuer be quenched For that of our selues we can not freelye accept of we neuer by compulsion can be procured to like of With you now the case is quite contrarye for so iminent euerye waye are the perils thereof vnto you as if her friendes shoulde abstaine it yet the lawes will punish it and if no lawes were at all yet God would reuenge it If therefore you will hearken to me you shall bee disswaded from all such intendementes wherein if my selfe shoulde haue becomme so gracelesse as to haue set in foote with you iustlye we might haue confessed eache of vs to haue beene drowned in all vnhappinesse And now good brother vse I pray you that means herin that with greatest commendation may beseme you weigh with your selfe that such distemperate motions are not to be followed conceiue that Virtue whose seruant you became in your first creation forbiddeth you to be led by such sensuall appetites think that the honor of armes which you haue professed extendeth not it selfe to the fraile and weake subduing of a womans condicion who by reason of her sexe rather challengeth at your haÌ„ds a defence theÌ„ any manlike enforcement besides much vnworthye should it be vnto your reputatioÌ„ by violence to dishonor whose estimate and accompt by reason of your liking you ought to prefer with all honour In fine frame your selfe to do that vncompelled which by force you shall be constrained to wish once to haue performed so shall you euer do that beseemeth you and giue me cause as my deare and louing brother euermore to accoÌ„pt of you Our former loue liking willeth me euermore to greet you your sister and mine commendeth her hartelye vnto you Fare ye well B. this thirteenth of Nouember c. IT apeareth in this Epistle to be Responsorie to an other letter wherein is to be conceiued that the writer was perswaded to ioyne in that action which herein so greatly he disswadeth Herein the places are more effectuall then in any the other examples for that in deed the matter of this letter induceth the forme thereof with farre greater circumstances In this because the purpose concerneth an attempt to be taken in hand is laid foorth Difficulcie Perill and Impossibilitie besides such other places as formerly in the other Epistles you finde also to be applied And this generally must I note vnto you that aswel in these as in many others of like kind the matter disswaded is made so much the more vehement by how much the circumstances thereof are truely to be dispraised or absolutely to be condemned notwithstanding it falleth not out in all Epistles of this title in such sort to be handled For sometimes men are disswaded from a matter in respect of the little necessitie thereof the great vnquiet thereby ensuing though not in an other sort perchaunce to be misliked the waight resting peraduenture farre beyonde their reache and other suppositions the nomber whereof I leaue in their selfe conceipts to be frequented knowing the scope heereof to bee so large and the occurrents so infinite as it were vnpossible to set downe examples conducing to the seuerall imaginations of the same Much no question auaileth it for anye one that studieth well to write to bee sufficientlye instructed in these two kindes of Swasorie and Disswasorie to know the better vppon what groundes the force of each of them may be deliuered so common are their places in diuers other Epistles to be induced as in Petitorie Monitorie Reprehensorie Inuectiue and such others Let it therefore firmely be aduised for either of these that whatsoeuer we endeuour to perswade all the commodities thereunto incident may firste be considered then by circumstaunces the same are againe to be amplified againe if therein be anye discommodities to be supposed them must we diminishe or as much as we can refel which vnder Confirmation and Confutation are contained and if anye other common reasons besides the meere matter of the thing may be imagined they shall thereunto be annexed as some peculiar virtue thereunto encouraging liking and good opinion benefite honor health comfort pleasure and a thousand others In disswading likewise that all the discommodities matters offensiue causes of detriment insufficiencie hazarde or whatsoeuer before remembred be herein collected put forwarde and amplified with like annexing of common reasons and inducementes as in the other is aduised and in the examples hereof you see to be tendred And to say sooth such intermixing of these two so ordinarily happening in manye letters as verye few matters do fall out in which some one part of them is not somtimes handled I know not
anye wayes haue induced him to the breache of eyther of these vertues what wanted to the furtherance therof that in and vpon him was not alwayes attendant as it were continually powred Was he not then wedded to Honnor euen in his formost cradle Did not Fortune immediatly acknowledge him and confesse that hee was her darling Seemed Vertue euer proud but in hys onely perfection grew Fame at anie time so vnpatient as euen then when as the most coÌ„uenient harbor of all her worthines she sought out his dwelling Agreed they not all with one voyce to abandon the statelines of anie others onely to be resiant with him whome they held most charie of all others Witnes among manie other his more then ordinarie attempts the three battels then which no one thing throughout the worlde before or since became of more greater remeÌ„brance by him in his moste youngest yeares so miraculouslie foughten the one of whiche was at Cresseye against the French wheÌ„ he was but 18 years of age as you haue before remeÌ„bred the 2. at Poicters where died the king of Boheme king Iohn of France became his prisoner the 3. against this bastard Henry for the kingdom of Castile wherin one whole intier fight the same Henry bearing a mighty host was by meer surpassing valure most worthy prowesse of this Prince discomfited and by mayne force thereof expulsed his seignorie Al which exploits and manie moe besides celebrating therby his eternal praises when hee had with greater glorye then well may be conceiued furnished and finished to the aduancement of his immortall dignitie see deathe despitefull death who ioyning with the malignitie of the wicked world hatefull alwaies to vertue and satisfiyng euer to malitious enuy bereft the vnworthie earth of his most worthie life But how not as falleth out to euery common creature deuoyd of after memorie for why the soueraigne commaunder of earthe and skies allotted it otherwise neither beseemeth suche stately Patternes of honoured Vertue whose spirites carried with greater efficacy of aspiring eternitie then those whose duller conceits are adapted to more terreâ—e and grosse validities shuld be exeÌ„pted theyr perpetuitie And albeit in al the progression of the wished life of this mighty Prince anie one thing was neuer fouÌ„d coÌ„trariyng blemishing or in one sort or other impugning his honour one sole imposition or taxe contraried in his gouernment of Gascoigne excepted yet in the hiest estate of happines wherein hee alwaies liued was he neuer more happy or glorious then euen in his very death Insomuche as he then died at which time in most honour highest top of all prosperitie he was principally established and chiefly flourishing at that instant in which the tipe of his excellency was in no one title or iote obscured at that very season when in the whole course and practise of his life hauing still adicted himselfe to sound out the incertaine and momentarie pleasures of the worlde he hadde by perfect triall found out the small validitie and little affiaunce that was to be reposed in the transitory fading glory of the same Euen then when in exchauÌ„ge of the eternall habitation the incomprehensible ioyes whereof no eye hath seene eare hath heard or toong can expresse he best knew how to leaue this wretched life and to compasse the sweete and wholesome meditation of the other Hee dyed my L. as hee euer liued vertuously and honourably the determination of whose deceasing corpes was preparation to newe ioyes and commutation of momentarie pleasures an assurance of euer flowrishing gladnesse Thus see you my good L. before your eyes the most certayn and assured counterfeite of very true nobilitie furnished in the discouerye of suche a one whose personage beyng in no kynde of excellencye inferiour to that in the hyghest degree may bee of anye other imagined deserueth by so muche the more of all honorable estates accordingly to bee embraced Great is the ornament of prayse and pretious the renowne that longeth to such vertue the diamond glimpse whereof equaleth in bewtie the fayrest and dimmeth by the very shadowe thereof the glittering pompe of the mightiest Bewtie strength riches and comelinesse fadeth yea the worlde decayeth pleasure vanisheth and the verie face of heauen it selfe perisheth Onely sacred vertue is immortall she neuer dieth euer quickeneth absolutely triumpheth and ouer all other earthly monumentes euen out of the deepest graue for euer flourisheth Liue therefore my L. vertuously and die wheresoeuer or whensoeuer yet howsoeuer honourably My paper burdened with his long discourse desirous rather to recreate then toyle your L. enforceth an ende Recommending my humble dutie in whatsoeuer to your honourable acceptance THe respectes of this Epistle argued in the personage of so noble Prince haue carried in the matter therof the very shew of the highest and chiefest vertues whervpon al commendation may be principally gathered The seuerall vse and applications of which doe in those partes herein mentioned specially appeare whose distinguishementes as of all others following are quoted in the margeant with other necessary additions together with such Figures Schemes and Tropes as eyther for ornament of speach or apt setting forth and deliuery of the places therin vsed are occupied in the same For the better signification whereof if either Scheme Figure or Trope shalbe here or in any other Epistle following quoted whose right and readie vse cannot by the learners simple conceite therein be gathered let him but turne to the latter part of thys booke and there as before I promised shall he find euery one in his true nature and kinde to him perfectly and at large deciphered And now to the other examples the next of whiche shall be Vituperatorie also touching the person Wherein as we haue in the other sought by all occasions and circumstances thereunto incident what to the furtherance of such requisite commendation might be alledged so will we herein imagine vpon what grounds or respects the occasions of disprayse may as farre forth otherwise in any other qualitie be tendered An example of an Epistle vituperatorie concerning also the person SIr the straungenesse of an accident hapening of late amongst vs hath occasioned at this instaunt this discourse to come vnto your handes There was if you remember at your last being with me in the country a man of great abilitie dwelling about a mile from me his name was B. and if I fayle not of memorie therein we hadde once at dinner togither sitting by occasion of a pleasaunt gentleman then beeyng in oure companye great speaches of him the man I know is not cleane out of your conceite and therefore I will cease in farther speeches at this present to reuoke him What generall hate the people bare him and howe ill he deserued from his first conuersing among them you haue not I am sure forgotten in somuche as hee was called the Hell of the
viz that you are a widow a Gentlewoman of very worshipfull parentage and discent the wife before time of a Gentleman of as good reputation as liuing as good aliance as credite that you are reputed modest discreet wise and well gouerned that you are and ought to be warie in your actions and such as whereof the babling multitude maye reape no aduantage and finally that by reason of the ouer hastye determination of his life whose continuance might haue ridde you of innumerable cares you are pestred with some troubles the most part of your liuing in suspence and that whereof you deeme your selfe most assured hanging vpon so many hazardes as hetherto remaineth doubtfull in what sort you shall compasse it or with what liking to your self you may happely ouerpasse the same Touching the first I warne not that according to your present estate you doe minde what you are what you haue beene of whome you are discended and in what sort you may best prouide with warines to deale for all these but drawinge to the latter and weighing on what termes you stand how hardly you are bestead what slender meanes to auoide it I repute him not the worst well willed that coulde aduise you with contentment and little hazarde in what sort you mighte beste indeuour in all effectes to aunswere it It is reported vnto me that by the procurement of some fauoring your aduauncement there is now preferred vnto your liking a yong Gent. virtuous discreet and well ordered the sonne and heire of a worshipfull Knight on the choice and regarde of whose parentes dependeth the best assuraunce of your whole porcion in whose condition and behauiour albeit you find no one thing to be reprehended yet disclaime you to bee married you will heare of no suters there must be in your hearing no speach at all of liking and you meane not so soone forsooth to set forward for a husband The course you do take herein seemeth in my opinion very euil insomuch as contrary to that which both your yeares your estate your liuing and present occasions do require you forciblye are indeuored to make so vndiscreet and setled a resistaunce Why La. doe you think it profiteth at all the deceased ghost of him that loued you a yong gentlewoman as you are scarce exceeding twenty yeares to liue thus solitarie Hangeth the censuring of your modesty and acceptance of that which your best friendes do wish for and the wisest do allowe of on the tatling humors of common supposes If it be deemed once fit for you to marrye againe and that vpon the warie and circumspect choice therof dependeth a maner of necessitye and that now before any one of yours almost suspected it the plenty of that might be charilie wished for is layde already into your bosome behooueth the respect of a little time which being sooner or later so it be perfourmed with modestye and aunswered with discretion mattereth not at all do deteine you so much as thereby you are not able to see into your owne profit Is it not I praye you a purpose honest that is tendered Is it not a matter lawfull to bee intended is it a thing vnmeet for your present yeares at this instaunt to be reputed Is it not all in all whatsoeuer in the best sort vnto you that might at any time be regarded Why then abstain you the entertainment of your owne good why draw you thus backwarde from your owne aduauncement Why cease you to accept that whereunto in the ende you must by meere force be compelled If you will beleeue me in any thing or do suppose the waight of my credite to be auaileable vnto you in ought I woulde aduise you in other sort considering that by declyning from a selfe opinion of that wherevnto without such manifest reason you are induced you shal do most good vnto your selfe and giue occasion to them that loued you to think that by so doing their good counsels haue happely wrought the same for aduancement towards you I had thought with my selfe many times sithence the death of your husband how much imported the vnsetled reach of your liuing to be renued in match with one of good calling see now God Fortune more fauouring your happ then your selfe your owne wel doing haue sent you such a one as of whom you might vaunt and iustlye in all thinges be occasioned to accompt of It now appertaineth that either by fond selfe wil or to much vnkindnes you shake not of from you the formost occasion of your succeding happines I reck not what of the common sort more of ignorance then wit may in suppose of the hasty conclusion be in secreat alleadged their errors like their fancies are as incertaine as peeuish Be you onely herein perswaded to what most of al beseemeth you think that both in the waightines and regard attributed to his and your owne worthinesse you can for the present frame your selfe to nothing that to your estate may returne so commodious whereunto though no other matter at all enioyned you it were now sufficient that so forced a necessitye constraineth you whereunto the regard of your selfe and your owne good fortune willeth to obey Longer could I debate vnto you the great liking of many conceaued of the partie to the deliuery wherof by the report of your nearest kinsmen I doe solie refer you onelye studying in this and whatsoeuer els I maye by all endeuours to pleasure you whereof praying you to bee most assured I doe in all courtesie leaue you At B. this of c. The maner of this Epistle differing somewhat in order from the rest after the Exordium therof in which is a declaration made concerning the person to whom the same is directed and limitation of time for the deliuerie of the intendment comprehendeth next a peculiar discription and laying out of the party by insinuation wherin whatsoeuer inferences thereof to be obiected againste the matter in handling are consideratly preferred After all which followeth the Narration and Proposition togeathers Then Distributio in which the partes proposed by the narration are particularlie distinguished And so Confirmatio c. The places frequented herein are from Honest Necessitie and Vtilitie which also in the residue of this sute are most commonly pursued The vse of Swasorie kind admitting such and so manye diuersities as it doth is herein often beautified and set foorth with those Descriptorie partes either concerning the thinge it selfe or the person of any one to the which is commonly annexed a certaine kinde of praise in the putting forwardes or aduauncement of the same Wherein let it be supposed that my selfe hauing beene a trauailer and delighted with the pleasure thereof would goe about to perswade my friend being a yong and towardly Gent. and one that hath sufficient maintenance therunto also of a good and sound constitution of body able to endure labour and to away with
Beleeue me T. I am sorie that mine ague had not lefte me and that I were not nowe in L. with thee were it but to viewe thy lookes and manlike behauiour after so hard a bickering and incounter as wherein thou was berest a heart of golde so daintie as I promise thee to somme graue sober fellowe might haue become prettie concipted and a verye sweete pigges nie Well T. if thou must needes loose her ferendum est quod mutari non possit be not sad I pray thee wele finde out a better matche wherewith to delight thee Thou must consider that it is requisite that all things should be done with indifferencie shee hath left a thousande pound in goodes and a C marke a yeare vnto thee let that content thee what though she was not maried a moneth to thee thou must be a patieÌ„t man her long continuaunce with so muche wealth might peraduenture haue glutted thee The Gods haue become more fauourable to thy yong yeares then thy self doest consider of Shee might I know haue liued longer time for age for fowre skore yeares olde I graunt is nothing the woman also in verie good plight too by Saint Margerie but what of that wee must as I said before beare with necessitie I pray God thou beest not ouercome with sorrowe but thou maiest take it quietly There be men in the world that are so carelesse of their fortune and so verie fooles in their wishing as they coulde content themselues greatly to be in the lyke predicament with thee but thou I assure my selfe art of a cleane contrarie opinion sweare no more good T. I am perswaded alone that it vtterly discontenteth thee But hearest thou playe not the madde man for all that I will rather comfort thee my selfe then that thou shouldest die for sorrow One thing greatly misliketh me I heard saye thou tookest an othe vpon her death bed neuer to marry again see how loue may leade men good GOD it is straunge I promise thee I could hardly be perswaded thou diddest so without I shoulde heare the sweare it Be not so sottishe good boy remember thy selfe and thinke on the Philosophers wordes Non nobis solum nati sumus thou maiest haue a wife man and become the father of nintie nine children perchaunce ere thou die Forsweare thou nothing good T. but building of monasteries and entring into religion for these my selfe dare vndertake thou neuer wilt nor mentest to do I would faine talk longer with thee but I am wearie therfore intend to leaue the expectation of the rest till I fortune to see thee Fare as otherwise thou canst not chuse wel hauing neither olde wife nor feuer wherewith to encomben thee At S. this of c. WHat aunswere now may be returned to all or any of these letters is to be expected according to the griefe or present condition of the party The efficacie of the one whereof may be such as endureth small arguing and the inclination of the other so plausible as beareth with whatsoeuer may sound vnto them comforting But for because the labor were endles to measure by writing the affections of eche one in particuler I will onelye sett downe for this one fourme the generalitie which may be inferred to the circumstances of anie other A letter Responsorie therfore vnto anie of these Epistles shoulde in the generall parts thereof conteine as seemeth me a Remuneration or friendly acceptance of their good wills that so haue bene employed in comforting and if the partie so thinke meete or the occasion so standeth to commend the wisedome learning fauour care or liking of him that so writeth and therein also the good effectes the same haue wrought if some thinges that may be alleadged did not impugne it shewing his councell is farre lesse vehement then our euill and therefore swaieth not in respect therof in our mindes so much as might haue done with manie others In conclusion that we acknowledge neuertheles his great discretion therein and deserued accompt of hys trauell Eche of which places howe they are to be distributed appeareth in the example following A letter Responsorie to be conferred to an Epistle Consolatorie GOOD brother I haue receiued your louing letters wherin carefully discreetly and effectually you haue endeuored to minister sundry comfortes to my pestered and diseased minde in all which I confesse you haue dealt with me as appertayneth vnto a faithfull courteous and moste regarded brother whereunto as much as possibly may be expected I yeeld my self vnto you for the same most bounden and assured Neyther will I wrong you so much as to denie that in perusing the contentes thereof I was not sometimes by the force of your argumentes a little withdrawn from the deepe consideration and hard suppose of my present euils but entring againe into mine owne estate and finding howe mightily the shewe of my forwarde mishaps swaieth ouer my maistered spirits I do imagin the greatnesse of my losse to bee so muche as in comparison wherof whatsoeuer you haue deliuered either in the mitigation or qualefieng of my harmes seemeth farre lesse in quantitie than the smallest that may bee conceiued of all mine euils Follie were it for mee to thinke or you to beleeue that the pensiue imagination of a thing so neere as whereupon concerned earst the some of all my ioyes pleasures and happinesse coulde with the vehemencie of a sewe specches more of zeale then equitie deliuered be sodenly remooued But as hath the adage Omnes quum valemus recta consilia â—grotis damus For councell is plentifull in euerye one whose conceiâ—es by freedome are exempted from anie passion at all Take it not so good brother that I think you not for me as wel as my selfe to be a partaker of my grieâ—e for I knowe in well you are but yet the one proceedeth of charinesse the other of extremitie you in pitie of my sorrowes and I in the verye touche of mine euils What Time may do I cannot tell to weare away what presently I feele to be forcible vpon me yet feare I the worst but will giue my selfe notwithstanding as muche as in me lieth to the practize of your councels How euer the case standeth I must acknowledge that verie weightily â—y you haue dealt concerning me and for the same will neuer cease to thanke you Fare ye wel this of c. IN this place will we conclude our Epistles Consolatory and passe out of the same title to the next thereof which 〈◊〉 Monitorie so 〈◊〉 in respâ—ct that in them is â—ontayned an admonition or fore warning of what we meane to giue in châ—â—gere our friendeâ— or followers the one parte whereof consisteth in skilfull explaning the offence of a thing faultie which standeth vpon to bee reformed the other in laying forth to the vnexperienced such matters as he knoweth not in sorâ— as if her with he were thoroughly acquainted And in so much as there be few meâ— y e gladlie like to be
desert in your craued good likeing haue obiected vnto my doubtfull minde so many and ouer greeuous imaginations as I partly stande in doubt to what side to encline One while calling in question the hazard of my happe and the extremitie I looke to ensue if not garded with your courtesie I be made a common obiect of euerie enuious opinion An other while reputing my selfe not fortunate in whatsoeuer chaunce may be tide me being thus long banished from the sight of that shoulde moste content me On neither part comforted with anie thinge because being crossed with so many mishaps I dare not hope for the remedie I would nor giue place to the wishe I haue desired seeing my self circumuented with so many false and feined conclusions I protest I neuer gaue cause of offence to your person seeing the honour is more that I beare you then the life I craue to enioye not possessing you Think not deer misteris I could so farre degenerate to reward a Iewes courtesie with fained trecherie muche lesse a gentlewoman your good selfe she to whom the best part of my life is indebted and for whome the sowrest death coulde not be to me vnpleasaunt Let not therefore enuious flatterie preuaile aboue truth vnfained loyaltie for so muche as to disprooue their reproches resteth yet in my life to verifie Which onely depending vpon your courteous dismission of this bearer remaineth till then surcharged with dolors as He that is not his but yours B. L. HAuing thus finished what hee meant and by a conuenient bearer posted the same to the handes of his implacable Misteris hard were it to bee coniectured how thoroughlie on eache parte the same was skanned Misteris Mawdlin becomming by this time the very bosome of all her imaginations forgatte not to tattle what malice coulde vtter and swore by no beggers that if it rested at her likyng her selfe woulde looke I trowe to minse vppon higher pantophles then to matche with suche vnderlinges The wenche was wise and spake of sound and perfit skill for well was she mortized in her punie yeares and knewe that to deale with younger brothers was nothing comparable to an elders possessions The gentlewoman notwithstanding stoode but very sleightly as I heard with him vpon such trifles onely the quarrell grewe vpon other matter and so prayed shee the same might rest Shee deemed she said that verie amplie he had deserued which was not in posse at her hands to be requited but what in good will shee might endeuour for him how farre soeuer different they were in all other opinions therein yet she stood confirmed in some little more then ordinarie accompt to receiue him Finally shee was not of her self alone therfore enforced to limit her offers in consideration of whiche shee praied him to be satisfied and not to search or assay at her hands to haue any farther progressions Sage Mawdlin in continuance of al this conference laughed in her sleue she thought by this tyme her cake had caught heate and was now somewhat more then dough but hee on the other side greeuing at nothing so much as that he coulde not be satisfied in minde of the most substantiall part of her mislike but that the passage of her speeches were conueied ouer with a manner of sleight regard as though if it were well taken or not shee cared not yet would be lothe too ouermuch discontentment to break off notwithstaÌ„ding neuer after hope might be conceiued of any wished good effect was now in a greater muse then before And frequenting oftentimes his mistresse ordinarie passages in purpose if he might conueniently once more meete with her to make his small and extreamest matter of resolution against himself that might be it was a thinge so vnpossible for him to compasse by reason of the continued drift of mistresse Mawdlin whose saintisâ— countenance was not so pleasing vnto him for she fawningly still receiued him though inwardly shee coulde not abide him as some other he â—ish aspect that what by her diuers entercourses or his misteris setled frowardnes hee was neuer able by anye meanes to speake with her Wherewith greatly enraged in deepe disdaine and most harde mislike of suche her vncourteous dealinge after many argumentes encountrings obiected in his secrete imaginatioÌ„s he deemed in himself at last how greatly he deserued to be accused in that by pursuite of so peeuish an intendment he woulde goe about to make his discretion a laughing stocke to those that hadde neither reason nor courtesie to accompt of it that by too liberall a proffer of that which in no point according to the least desert included in the principall worthinesse might bee esteemed of Nowe began reason a little to peere in one corner of his decayed conceites and though the former troden steps of Loue had before time left so manie broad paths in the greatest entrie of his woonted endeuours yet was hee at this instant somthing perswaded by degrees to reclayme himselfe and if his happe were not too muche addicted to his auowed ouerthrow to become a new man Whereupon departing from the place wherein he remained hee posted immediately to his woonted lodge and there beeing set downe twixt auntient setled Loue and newe erected mislike depending as it were in equall ballance not fully resolued to leaue and loth in such disordered daliance to be thus continued he framed these lines which in testimony of that he after performed he causes to his misteris to be forthwith recommended SHall I terme you a friend as importuned by necessitie or induce you as a stranger solicited with hope of some better courtesie or mazed as I stand in my doubtfull dumpes shall I now deeme to gaine that by intreatie which triall in many dayes could neuer haue performed by enguaged lot of assured loyaltie No trust me I will henceforth neither speake nor proffer auowe nor gainesay but as counterchecked with my former pretence I will seeke to man my fortune by a forced continual silence Cruel I cannot say that you are that proffer no more than you haue promised Of vnkindnesse I charge you not as in whome neuer anie good affection towardes me was planted Vncurteous I dare not affâ—rme although causelesse I haue bin touched because the same is a blemissie to the off-spring of true gentilitie But thus much I may lawfully auerre that I neuer deserued the least parte of iniurie that as reward of my approoued good will hathe alwaies bene proffered me If Theseus had no more felicitie in his labours Iason in his aduentures or Paris in his amours then I haue founde pleasure in pursuite of thy worthinesse and quiet in abandoning my happinesse I blame them not to bee noted of inconstancie rather then to be yoked to so hard an extremity Your wordes sauouring of too muche despite and countenaunce towards me continually freight with intolerable disdaine enforce me to thinke that eyther in deed I am become an vnwoonted and moste vile abiect
seruaunts that the great zeale and loue you doe beare vnto me is a vehement occasion to kindle in you a desire of wel-wishinge and intendement of assured safetye towardes me wherein I haue more cause to thanke your good willes then meane thereby to imagine the force of my disease to be lesse then long since I expected and exceedinglye in my selfe haue euer doubted what wordes of comfort protraction delayes soeuer haue by the Physitions to the contrary beene vsed One great and exceeding comfort vnto me is that liuing I euer loyally demeaned my selfe dying I shall depart this world in her Maiesties good grace and especiall fauour Next vnto that the loue of you my dearest friendes and entierly beloued seruaunts and followers whose hartes I know doe pursue me and whose affections euen to the last gaspe of death I am perswaded to bee euer firme and fixed towardes me Your desires are I know that I should lyue according vnto which the least mitigation that may be of my griefe you measure by and by to the hope of amendment which is not so For that in all the comfortable speaches that sundrye times I haue receaued from you my self to whom the inward effects thereof haue beene founde most forcible haue euer mistrusted and by many probable circumstances adiudged the contrary Long time endure I can not this know I well happely a day two or three I may yet be conuersaunt among you for my decease that standeth assured the messenger wherof continually knocketh at the doore of my imaginations readye euerye howre to assault my harte and to carry away with him the spoyles of a dying carcase will not permit I shall long time trauell in this sort among you And for my selfe stande yee all asserteined that hauing long since peized in equall balaunce the long continuaunce of a fraile wretched and trauailed life the moste part whereof is carryed awaye in sleepe sorow griefe sickenesse daunger and the residue also neuer freed of care and all maner of disquiet with the hope of an euerlasting ioy happines rest peace and immortall residence I finde no reason why I should at all affect the toyle of such earthlye tediousnesse Insomuch as hauing liued now almost three skhore and thirteene yeares and borne my selfe honourablie I trust in all mine actions and seruices and further in the progression of my ripest yeares yea in this very instaunt more then at any other time am regarded of my prince and esteemed of my country and among my peeres reputed in the highest degree of my fidelitie I shall now die as becommeth my person worthelye and honourably Be you therefore recomforted I praye you as I am and thinke that for all the loue you haue ought me the seruices you haue done me or tender care you do yet in my heauiest panges beare vnto me the chiefest content you can doe vnto me is that you be satisfied herein with me That beeing verilye resolued in my soule of all that I haue heere sayde vnto you and hauing ordered mine actions and prepared my selfe thereto accordinglye I doe willingly and with a right contented mind leaue this transitory worlde so replenished as it is with so manye greeuous casualties and hartely do giue my body to his naturall course my soule into the hands of the Almighty creator for euer in his glory I trust to be eternized This speach ended he continued till after midnight at which time he had about two howres slumber and so beganne his paine to encrease againe In which till wednesdaye following almost in one state he for the most part remained often-tymes accustoming him selfe with those that were about him to prayer many times recording to him-selfe the goodnesse of God and his mercies to him remembred and that with such zeale enteire regarde of his hoped repose as that it still seemed and was euidentlye apparaunt how muche he longed and thirsted for the same In fine drawinge by little and little to an ende euen in the verye last pange ioyning his handes vp to heauen his hart eyes thitherwarde fixed he recommended eftsones him selfe to the mercy of his redeemer and on thurseday last about two in the morning dyed to the lamentable griefe of all that were about him who hartely sorrowing his losse were forced to shed teares aboundauntly The day of the funerall is not yet certaine but the same is intended very honourably Recommending my selfe vnto your La. in all humblenes I take my leaue At our sorowfull house of B. this of c. THese three Letters being all as you see of one suite yet diuersly handled according to the seueral matters in them contained do beare in them two only parts of an Epistle whereof they be solye consisting A briefe Exordium in each and then Narratio throughout Peroratio there is none because by collection there is no inference made of any the matters continued but a Conclusion vsed with breuitie wherein eyther greetinges or farewell to knit vp the Epistle is mentioned The Exordium of the first ariseth from the person of his Unkle whose authority was a charge vnto him to informe the speciall notes of the country The Narration by demonstration of the particulers of the City describeth therof the worthines statelines and the excellencye as firste it is mentioned to bee auncient as builded by Nero. 2. Then pleasauntly scituate by reason of the ayre and fertilitye of woodes and waters 3. Next by the sumptuous and statelye buildinges whose descriptions are extant 4. Fourthly the fashion equalitie and largenes of their streates and houses 5. Fifthlye their Magistrates and long continued gouernement 6. Sixtlye their apparell reteyning yet the monuments of their autient dignities 7. Finallye the goodnes of the soile measured by their complexions The Conclusion knitting vp the state thereof mentioneth a discharge of promise and courteous recommendations c. The seconde Letter hath his Exordium briefe of the freindship betweene both parties each longing to be informed of the others wel-fare The Narration occupieth the description of vnfrequented places As first they haue onely the commodity of the soile which by reason of the ayre is well scituate without any fruite at all thereof because it is not inhabited Secondly there is nothing to encomber them with but the care to defend them-selues which is easie and to get victuals which is impossible Thirdlye nakednesse of the people without ciuilitie and thereby barred from anye common societie Lastly the subtiltie of their disposition to lye in waite beeing men eaters whereby some of their company haue sometimes beene entrapped The Conclusion sheweth a short return Feruēt desire of safty The third caryeth his Exordium of the decease of an honourable peere and the desire of her to whome he wryteth to be aduertised of the same The Narration by circumstaunces inferreth the sodainnes of his death because by some hope of recouery it was at that time vnexpected Then a
recordation of some worthy and honourable speaches by him deliuered beeing an argument of the contempt â—e held of life and the certaine notice and likinge hee had in him-selfe of death After his death Lastlye the celebration of his funerals the time whereof was not then knowne The Conclusion is a determination of the Letter onelye in taking his leaue and there withall endeth Thus doe you see the speciall pointes wherevpon euery of these Letters do consist distinguished by the numbers in each of them seuerally contained the matters and occasions leadinge to the examples whereof be infinite For what I praye you in particular of anye generalitie can be set downe but that the same to the methode hereof must needes be correspondent In what kinde of argument can you wade to recount any matter whatsoeuer but the title hereof shall in some sort or other of necessity he handled Insomuch as the vse hereof being so plenty as it is it falleth out verye seldome in his owne proper nature of an Epistle to bee disposed but in manye other sortes of Epistles is verye commonlye frequented For examples sake if in an epistle Commendatorie we endeuor to commende anye man to fauour office or seruice with an other it is necessary that we manifest the person what he is what be his qualities which can not bee without we fall into these kindes of descriptions herein vsed in demonstration of his virtues If in a Swasorie Epistle we shoulde aduise our friende to leaue the Citie and to come and dwell in the country we must of necessity by demonstration and description of the same place set before his eyes the benefite pleasure vse and commodity thereof by meanes of which he may the rather thervnto be induced The like also manye times happeneth in Epistles Consolatorie Petitorie Exhortatrie and Monitorie besides in Criminatorie Defensatorie Inuectines and others in each of which the virtues or vices of men are sundrye times eyther extolled praysed preferred vrged excused alleadged proposed dispraised misliked or condemned Neâ—dlesse were it therefore to wade into all the particular examples heereof solie to be conferred in Epistles by them selues onely such as are needful we will proceed in referring al the residue coÌ„tained in this demonstratiue kinde to the examples wherein in anye other title they shall be tendred Applying there withall to the Readers consideration that if he shall be occasioned at any time to the description of anye other thinge or place heerein not mentioned and not by imitation of these sole obseruations with facilitie sufficient to be conceaued he may turne to the former titles aboue rehearsed and in the margent hereof likewise expressed in some of which he shall not fayle in one sort or other of that he lyketh or searcheth to be satisfied One example more semblable to the first as well for that it carrieth in it so rightly the nature of this demonstratiue kinde without intermixion at all as also in respect of the very perfect and orderly deliuery thereof I will preferre vnto your imitation the matter whereof vpon occasion of the ambassage of Sir George Carie into Scotland was written by M. R. Bowes being there then in his company to the right honourable L. Hunsdon containing onelye a Narration of his enterteignement with some occurrents mentioning the state of the countrye at that instant which by chaunce in the writing hereof among other old papers happened into my handes IT may please your good L. On the twelfth hereof S George Carey and his company came to the Town with greater speed then the LI. here looked for causing them heereby as they saye to omit sundrye complements of enterteingnement to haue beene shewèd to him both in the way and also at his ariuall heere And albeit audience was required to haue beene giuen on the morrow yet it could not be obtained before this daye which delaye was partly excused by our sodaine comming but the chiefe cause appeared to be by the vnreadines of the king On the morrow after our comming the Earles of Marre and Gowrie the L. Lindsey the M. of Glamis Iustice Clearke Clearke Register and sundry other of the Councell and Gentl. came to Sir George offering all courtesies to him and good deuotion to her Maiestye This daie audience was graunted wherevpon Sir George deliuered to the king her maiesties directions giuen him in charge with such discretion good order as aunswered fullie the contents of his instructions and sounded greatly to his own commendation giuing me iuste occasion to thinke my selfe happie to follow one that could with such sufficiencie discharge the dutie requisite on his part The king appearing to be partly passionate at the first did acknowledge him-selfe greatlye beholden to her maiestie for her great benefits with offer and promise to be found thankfull for the same excusing still the abuses of the Duke towardes him-selfe and other vnthankfulnes shewed to her maiestye All which he would haue drawn to haue come rather by the ouersight of councellors adâ—ising consenting to the causes of the same then by the Duke that little medled as he thought in such matters And for his further aunswer he hath referred it to his next conference wherin it is hoped he shall be brought to better vnderstanding of his state and of the doinges of the Duke as by the next your L. shal haue further aduertisement The Duke continueth as yet in Dunbarton accompanied with the M. of Seton the M. of Leuinston sundry others besides his owne companye he pretendeth to haue want of sundry requisits needful for his departure transportation thereon hath sent to the k. to pray longer time which is denied and order giuen this day vnto him to obey to keep the appointmeÌ„t prescribed The piece of DunbartoÌ„ is wel victualed furnished albeit it is deliuered to the custody charge of W. Steward for the K. yet it is in the dukes power to coÌ„mand dispose of the same as he pleaseth Vpon sundry respects the K. his LI. haue deferred the conuention vntil the x. of October next minding to haue the same at Edenbourgh thereby to establish both a good order for the kinges person his house and reuenewes as also for the pollicie of the gouenment And thus referring al others to the next occasion with my humble dutie I pray vnto God to haue your L. in his blessed keeping Sterling the of October c. MAny aduertisments in this Letter I haue purposely ouer-passed as well for y e they were nothing furthering to example as also something impertinent vnto the course hereof Now foloweth it next y e after these Letters meer Descriptorie as you see we do treat of the other two parts apertaining also to this form which are Lawdatorie Vituperatorie the vse whereof eyther soly or intermixed in any other kinde of Epistles shall of one or more of these causes take their originall that is to saye of the Person
fithence continued the same you wil in no sort therof be recomforted Assuredly my good coosin I must needes conclude with your owne speeches and the weight of your interchaungeable likings that there is great cause left vnto you to become sorrowfull as hauing lost the chief and principall iewell of all your worldly loue and liking the fauored companion of all your pleasaunt and youthfull yeares the entire comfort and solace of your present happinesse and suche a one who aboue all worldes or any earthly estimation at all accompted honoured and entirelie more then anie others receiued and loued you but that you haue so great and vrgent cause of extremity to continue with so hard impatience as you do it befitteth not it is vnnecessarie yea it is in my iudgement of al others the most insufferable For whē it is not denied vnto you that you haue cause to mourn it is not fittest vnto the matter of your loue to weep ouer him and to bewaile him it is then thereby intended that there must be a meane therein that the force thereof must bee limitted that the apparaunce beare shewe of discretion Doe we not all know I pray you and are witnesses that he was a mortall man as our selues hee was borne vnder the same condition that hee must once die that he had his time set beyond whiche hee might not passe and that God who gaue him life thus long to liue with you hath now called him again from this earth to leaue you Are we ignoraunt that nature compelleth the wife for her husband the husband for his wife parentes for their children and kindered for their kinsfolke to weepe and lament but followeth it not also therewith that the losse and want of them being layd downe by an immooueable necessity we can by no meanes afterwardes be in hope to reclaime them what great folly do we then commit in thus serching after the ghosts of our deceased frends or what other thing do we therein performe but yeeld a plaine demonstration that our teares are to none other end but to bewayl them because they were mortal whom death could neuer haue shunned without they had bin immortall Are we not eftsoones put in minde by the common casualtie of al thinges that there is nothing stable that daily and hourely kingdomes decaye prouinces are shaken countries destroyed cities burned townes wasted people consumed and that it remayneth a thing so ordinarie with vs dayly to be conuersant in these euils the losse of al or eyther of which if they may be accounted euils why then doe we giue our selues by vnmeasurable griefe to a perpetuall continuaunce and renouation of those euils But you will hereunto alleage that it is loue that inforceth you vnto the same and that such is the continual remembrance you haue as you cannot forget him Alas how fruitles is this loue and zealous remembraunce in the deliueraunce thereof howe far sequestred is the vehemencie of the same from the serched recompence why learne wee not rather of the wisest and worthiest how to mitigate the impatience of our owne imperfections In whose precepts examples and councels if the immoderate vse or enterteygnement of any thing bee forbidden shall we not then in this aboue all others bee chiefly reprehended when wee enforce our selues by continuall meditation of our losses to shead so many teares to no purpose what if your husband had not now died at this instant he must you knowe haue died he coulde not alwaies haue liued yea but he died you saye vntimely what call you vntimely I pray you If in respecte of the force preuayling vppon him wherby he was slaine you name it vntimely then doe I graunt vnto it But if in regarde of the time of his life you affirme it I denie that the same may then bee saide vntimely For why hath not the eternall creator of all thinges ordered by his deuine wisedome each matter to passe his course in sort to himselfe best beseeming and most pleasing howe can you then say that to bee vntimelie which by his heauenly moderation was so appointed assure your selfe if hee had then beene at home wyth you he had also died you could not haue preuented it his houre was come so was it determined which way could she shunne it What then greeueth you in this action is it that he was slaine Consider with your selfe it was in his princes seruice his death was thereby the more honourable for in so dieng he died as a man as a souldier as a gentleman Yea but you shall neuer you say see him more true indeede but what of that is this deathe now greater then his absence before yes forsoothe it is in deede and why because you had hope then to see him againe which by this meanes is taken away verie well You did then while he was liuing recomfort your selfe with hope content your selfe now with necessitie because it must needes be so and you can no waies amend it Is not this an ende sufficient to determine all sorrowes If you weepe lament crie out and become grieued requisite were it the same shoulde returne to some end that all your care sorrow griefe lamentation or what els should not appeare fruitelesse that the intendment determination therof shuld be to some special purpose See you then herein is no supplie the effectes are berest the end taken away Bee not thē so fond as to bedew that with your teares wherunto belongeth neither redresse nor meane of recouery Who is hee that woulde bee so mad as crie out vnto him of whome he might bee assured neuer to obtaine remedie By cunning art beastes wee see thoughe they be most fierce are tamed a meane is found wherewith to breake the marble the Adament how hard soeuer it be may be deuises bee mollified Onely deathe is of such force as no waies can be conuinced At the leastwise if neyther of these argumentes might moue you to suppresse your exceeding sorrows you must finally consider that wee are Christians and by the benefite of this corporall death doe make exchaunge of an vncorruppted life that the withdrawing vs from this vile earthlie bodie of clay and filth is a commutation to a sacred and heauenly progression and that we haue nothing lefte vnto vs in all the trauailes cares disquiets and heauie turmoiles of this wearisome liuing whereof to reioice vs but the expectation wee haue of happinesse and euer flourishing gladnes Suppose the ghost of your husband were here present to see you in all this extremitie what thinke you would he say how much disordered imagine you would he thinke you to be in your affections And were it not that so many costes hadde seuered him both by land and seas peraduenture wearied with your bitter outcries in the conceited image shape of death you might in apparance heere him in these like speeches accusing rebuking such your